Politics live: February 5, 2013

Well folks, that's your lot for today. We will be back again tomorrow to report politics live from the national capital.

Let's do the evening summary.

Key events today in federal politics:

Federal parliament resumed for the 2013 political year.

Our parliamentarians began their day in church.

The political news cycle began its day chewing over the Opposition's declaration that if we now knew the election date, courtesy of Ms Gillard, we must already be in the caretaker period (see the first post today for English translation). The caretaker convention guidelines revealed this as rather an ambitious call.

Labor's most famous backbencher Kevin Rudd professed no interest in the Labor leadership when he was asked by an enterprising reporter outside church.

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott shook hands briefly at the War Memorial before resuming the daily battle.

Question Time was jobs and growth for Labor; surplus - where is it for the Coalition.

I don't want to set the conspiracy theories running, but I note jobs and growth start with the Prime Minister's initials - JG. Make of that what you will.

In a second I'm going to hand over to chief photographer Andrew Meares for a few minutes before we wrap.

He's going to give you his own unique take on the political day.

Drum roll please.

Here comes Photos without Notice.

4:56pm on 5 Feb 2013

Just a couple of things on the new Pulse Live template which we've wheeled out today.

Have you noticed you can now sort blog posts in the way you want to read them? (From earliest to latest, or the other way around. Some people find reading the latest development a bit confusing if you aren't with us all day).

You can now rate my individual posts should you want to do that: like or not. (Go on, be brave. I'm a tough old bird.)

The new live updates don't disturb our Pulse Live videos, so you can view them at your leisure without having to remember to turn off the old auto-refresh.

There are other cool things too, but I've forgotten. Thanks very much to Digimon Carlos Monteiro for his great work.

Interested, of course, in your feedback.

4:44pm on 5 Feb 2013

Let's check in with today's Essential Poll.

Voters have given the thumbs up to the Prime Minister's decision to pre-announce the federal election date - 45 per cent approved, 34 per cent disapproved.

Given Question Time and its focus, interesting to see 42 per cent of voters in the Essential sample approving of the Gillard Government's decision not to return the budget to surplus this financial year. Thirty seven per cent disapproved.

The Coalition retains its thumping election lead over Labor on the two-party preferred measure - Coalition 54 per cent, Labor 46 per cent.

Labor wanted the narrative today be jobs and growth: we are into it, the Coalition is not.

If I could do a word cloud, I would, just to show you how often that phrase got a run in Question Time. Everyone was onto it and into it. (You make not like us, the Labor Party, but you know we care about you is the message. That and trying belatedly to reclaim a credible economic management record with the voters. Folks seem to have forgotten about the global financial crisis - that's why the stimulus, the borrowing, the deficit; and the continuing global economic uncertainty has, in part, made revenue collections weak.)

Contemporary life is all about the permanent present. I know I forget things that happened five minutes ago. Labor, here, is retracing steps. Hoping you are all listening. Whether you are remains to be seen.

The Coalition was the surplus. (Where is it? You lot couldn't organise a party in a pub. That sort of thing.)

This is obviously fertile ground if you consider my explanation of Labor's strategy today. The Coalition wants to approach the election ahead on economic management.

Interesting how micro these battles are - hand combat, in close.

Rather like that overly obvious baiting of the new Attorney-General from Ms Bishop - who is taking up much of Mr Abbott's negative heavy-lifting in the chamber these days. Hard blow to the head. Watch how he absorbs it.

Politics. Ah, the humanity.

3:41pm on 5 Feb 2013

Labor backbencher Rob Mitchell isn't amused about the Dreyfus Affair.

(Sorry, I may have recently been in Paris, and therefore couldn't resist.)

Would JB have asked that question about settlements if AG wasn't Dryfus

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop inquires of the new Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus whether he agrees with the Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr's statement last year that West Bank settlements are illegal.

Nice try Julie is the response of the House and its operatives.

The question is ruled out of order.

Not within portfolio responsibilities.

(Mr Dreyfus is Jewish, should Pulsers need that information for their background.)

Labor backbencher Jill Hall tweets thus:

Bishopbeing too cute by half, asked the wrong Minister and asked for a legal opinion - ruled out of order#qt

The lovely Chris Hammer has produced this quick cut of the first question of the new political year.

Just if you had that office sweep and you need proof to cash in with the colleagues. Not that we encourage gambling here at The Pulse Live. Or audience participation. Or anything.

For your viewing pleasure. How 'bout that surplus?

2:54pm on 5 Feb 2013

Some facts now on soda ash, from Ms Gillard.

The Prime Minister has been asked by shadow industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella about job losses in January at Penrice - a soda ash plant. The company cited the strong dollar, rising labour costs and the clean energy package for this decision.

Mrs Mirabella wants to know if Ms Gillard will apologise for breaking her pre-election commitment not to introduce a carbon tax?

Ms Gillard curls a lip.

The impact of carbon pricing is very very modest indeed.

Two moments of mild alarm follow in the chamber.

House of Representatives Speaker Anna Burke informs the clerk she has lost all contact. Her console screens are blank. She's flying solo, up there in the big chair. A slight, nervous giggle.

And Queensland's Bob Katter is on his feet with his first question of the year.